Welcome to the U. S. Department of Agriculture. You are now a very important member of a group of people pledged to protect American Agriculture. Our mission at USDA is to "Provide leadership on food, agriculture, natural resources, and related issues based on sound public policy, the best available science, and efficient management." Only through the dedicated efforts of employees like yourself can this mission be accomplished. Managers and supervisors know from experience that the most rewarding use of their time is working with their most important resource - you, the employee. Managers and supervisors, through orientation, training and other programs, want to help you achieve your career goals while, at the same time, accomplishing the USDA mission. Please know that the USDA is firmly committed to Civil Rights and Equal Employment Opportunity for everyone.

In this on-line Orientation, we have included information to answer questions you may have about working for the Federal Government as a new employee, or as a transferring employee (coming from a Federal agency or department outside of the US Department of Agriculture). Some of the material is directly from the USDA and some of it is linked from other Federal agencies, such as the Office of Personnel Management. It is important that you read and understand the information covered. Any questions should be directed to your supervisor. You and your supervisor are also encouraged to use this opportunity to review any local policies that may be specific to your individual duty station or program activity. We hope that you find your work with USDA challenging and a source of personal pride and satisfaction.

New EmployeeFind the forms you are required to complete before your first day of work.

Navigation: Many links within this Orientation will take you to external web sites and are marked with an *, to continue the New Employee Orientation on this site close all external site window(s).

Video: To play the Welcome video, you must have the Windows Media Player. If you don't have it, you can get it here*.

Forms: All of the forms linked to within this Employee Orientation are in Portable Document Format (or PDF). In order to complete these forms on-line you will need Adobe Acrobat Reader version 3.0 or higher to be able to complete the forms on-line. If you don't have it, you can get it here*. Most of the forms linked to in these pages can be completed on-line and printed. The data you enter in these forms cannot be electronically submitted at this time. Please read the instructions for each form before you complete the form.